Gowasu is a character from the animated series Dragon Ball Super, where he serves as the Supreme Kai of the Tenth Universe. As a deity of creation, his primary responsibility is to oversee the development and nurturing of mortal life within his designated universe, a role he maintains in a symbiotic partnership with the Tenth Universe's God of Destruction, Rumsshi. The lives of Gowasu and Rumsshi are directly linked; should one die, the other would perish as well, a mechanism designed to keep the forces of creation and destruction in perfect balance.

Physically, Gowasu appears as an elderly, tall, and slender deity with light yellow, wrinkled skin. He has pointed ears, which are a common trait among his race, and his white hair is styled into a distinct mohawk that is swept to one side. His attire is the traditional garb of a Supreme Kai, consisting of a gray and yellow coat worn over a long-sleeved violet shirt, a light blue sash, dark blue baggy pants, and white boots. He wears the green and gold Potara earrings that signify his divine status.

In terms of personality, Gowasu is a patient, wise, and profoundly benevolent deity. He has accumulated countless years of experience observing the flow of history and the actions of mortals. This has led him to adopt a philosophy of non-interference, firmly believing that a Supreme Kai's duty is to nurture, create, and silently observe, leaving acts of destruction and direct intervention to the Gods of Destruction. He holds a deep-seated respect for all forms of life and maintains that even flawed mortals have the potential to learn and evolve towards peace. Reflecting his age, he enjoys leisurely pastimes such as drinking tea and watching videos on a divine multiverse network called GodTube, occasionally displaying a subtle, gentle sense of humor. For instance, he once playfully teased his apprentice about the possibility of fusing via their Potara earrings. However, his trusting and forgiving nature can also manifest as naivety, as he was initially blind to the deep-seated malevolent tendencies growing within his own pupil.

Gowasu's most significant role in the story is as the master of Zamasu, a prodigious and powerful Kai in training whom he selected as his successor. Hoping to guide the young deity towards a more compassionate understanding of mortals, Gowasu instead inadvertently set the stage for a catastrophic crisis. He demonstrated his attempts to educate Zamasu by using a Time Ring to travel a thousand years into the future, showing him that a primitive, violent race of beings could eventually develop civilization. When this lesson failed to quell Zamasu's hatred, Gowasu remained oblivious to the danger, trusting in his student's pure-hearted nature—a purity that was reflected in the clarity of the tea Zamasu brewed. His ignorance proved nearly fatal when Zamasu plotted to murder him and steal his Time Ring and Potara to execute a genocidal "Zero Mortals Plan." Gowasu was saved only by the intervention of Beerus, the God of Destruction from the Seventh Universe, and his angel attendant, Whis, who reversed time to prevent the assassination and exposed Zamasu's treachery. Despite this betrayal, Gowasu showed his capacity for forgiveness when he later confronted an alternate version of his corrupted apprentice, offering him a chance to repent and start anew, an offer that was ultimately rejected.

Gowasu's key relationships are central to his character. His most defining relationship is with his apprentice, Zamasu. He serves as a mentor, trying to instill patience and reverence for life, and his ultimate failure to foresee Zamasu's fall into darkness becomes a source of profound personal guilt. He also maintains a formal, respectful relationship with the angel Kusu and his destroyer counterpart, Rumsshi, with whom he is bound by the life-link. During the Tournament of Power, he works alongside Rumsshi and Kusu to select ten warriors to represent their universe, showing a thoughtful, if sometimes indecisive, approach to leadership.

Throughout the series, Gowasu experiences significant development, primarily through tragedy and failure. He begins as a complacent and somewhat detached elder god, confident in his methods of mentorship. The revelation of Zamasu's betrayal and the immense suffering it causes across multiple timelines shatters his worldview, and he is forced to accept responsibility for his role in the disaster, acknowledging his mistake in choosing such a flawed disciple. This somber lesson makes him far more cautious and introspective. His character arc concludes on a quieter, but redemptive note when he is erased from existence alongside his entire universe during the Tournament of Power, only to be revived later by a wish from the winner of the tournament, Android 17. This second chance allows him to continue his duties with a newfound sense of humility and vigilance.

As a deity, Gowasu possesses a range of notable abilities common to the Supreme Kais. He can use Bukuujutsu, the sky dancing technique, to fly, and Kai Kai, an instantaneous teleportation skill that allows him to travel anywhere, even between different universes. He has demonstrated other standard divine powers such as telekinesis, the ability to create barriers, and a potent healing technique that can fully restore a wounded individual. He also possesses clairvoyant abilities, allowing him to observe events from great distances. While his raw combat power is not a primary focus, he is a skilled martial artist, as depicted in some video game appearances, and can wield basic ki-based attacks. His most important tools are his Potara earrings, used for fusion, and the Time Rings, which are kept in a special box and allow the wearer to travel forward in time, though travel to the past is strictly forbidden.